KNOX project update no. 1 February 2018

The Danish SME MyDefence aims to pursue a major market opportunity through the optimization and demonstration of an innovative, cost advantageous and scalable drone alarm and protection system (KNOX) to be used by security services providers and infrastructure owners – public and private sectors – in urban contexts.

Drones are quickly moving from being mainly a military technology to a mass market gadget. Whereas demand and applications for drones are fast-growing, the drone market also raises security and privacy concerns. Presently, there are obvious concerns about the possibility of using drones for illicit purposes and terrorist attacks in which drones could be equipped with explosives, biological or chemical weapons.

MyDefence has developed an innovative drone alarm – KNOX – able to detect, identify and locate civilian drones around secure areas, and to jam in a specific wireless frequency range without interfering with other mobile signals, and forcing a controlled drone landing. KNOX is also an early warning of drones’ activity and helps to locate the pilot before the accident/attack takes place. KNOX is expected to be a game changing solution for drone detection and protection of infrastructures and mobile soft targets in urban contexts.

In the first 6 months of the project, we have amongst other held kick-off meetings in house and with the three Danish partners and site surveys. On the development side, we have prepared installation packages and our development team is working hard to implement costumer needs such as wi-fi detection and camera integration. We have handed in deliverable 2.1. A report about the technical specifications of the KNOX system and 7.1. The dissemination, communication and exploitation plan. We have already participated in various expos, conferences, product presentations and tests and had the opportunity to present the KNOX project at a funding event and there are more opportunities to come.

On the administrative side of the project we have built a time management system and developed company (and as such also KNOX) policies for purchasing plane tickets, accommodation and catering etc. The administrative team has also participated in a course on administrating EU-projects and have written this a 6-months progress report. Based on the report we are now working on an amendment.

The successful implementation of the KNOX project will effectively contribute to significantly strengthen the security against drones used for hostile purposes and the expected result of the KNOX project is still, that MyDefence will set the foundation for creating a new industry of KNOX solutions in Europe and grow related sub-suppliers and thereby drastically strengthen the competitivenessof MyDefence and a group of supplier SMEs by demonstrating an innovative solution for detection, protection and jamming of civilian drones used for illegal purposes. Since the potential of the KNOX is scalable worldwide and already gaining recognition outside EU, this will position Europe as leader within the industry.

Overall, the project is facing many EU challenges by improving the economics of the security sector, thereby contributing to the sector’s competitiveness and creating jobs. Aligned with European policy objectives for secure societies, KNOX will target critical infrastructure owners and security services providers (public and private sector) – including national polices, prison services, private security companies, law enforcement agencies – representing a very high-volume market. The deployment of the KNOX will boost the business of MyDefence and, at the same time, bring benefits for end-users, stakeholders and the society in general.